Versus X

Overlooked German band with great love for 70's progressive rock, led by (professional chemist) Arne Schaefer, also leader of the side-project Apogee. They were formed at the dawn of the 90's by Schaefer and drummer Stefan Maywald, who were members of the new wave band ''Vague Venture''. Keyboardist Ekkehard Nahm saw Scahefer playing at a solo concert and meant to be the third member of the band's early years. The Frankfurt-based trio recorded their debut in 1994 with Schaefer playing basses, guitars and handling the vocals.
As Schaefer is a devoted fan of Peter Hammill, plenty of the material is song-based without lacking in instrumental intensity…

Versus X are a German band who on this their second album have created three long tracks totalling 57 minutes. Dark moody atmosphere grace this album with long instrumental passages, alternating from mellow to more uptempo in a good and very intresting manner. Quite complex eclectic prog, elaborated arrangements, piano, keyboards and guitar having an important role here.

Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part One is the eighth studio album by The Kinks, one of the most influential rock acts of all time, and was recorded and released in 1970. A concept album, it is a satirical appraisal of the music industry, including song publishers, unions, the press, accountants, business managers, and life on the road. This classic album appeared during a transitional period for the Kinks, and was a critical and commercial success. 50th anniversary Digipack CD release contains the original album new remaster from original HD master tapes plus alternate mono track versions and two new Ray Davies mixes. Features the hit singles Lola and Apeman. Produced in association with The Kinks, with audio and visual content curated by Ray Davies.

Versus is a long-gestating audio document of the collaboration between Detroit techno luminary Carl Craig, pianist Francesco Tristano, and French orchestra Les Siècles, conducted by François-Xavier Roth. All the aforementioned musicians (along with Germany's Moritz von Oswald, who serves as "spiritual advisor" for this recording) premiered Versus on-stage in 2008, reportedly to five standing ovations. Instead of taking the easy way out and just releasing a recording of the concert, Craig and company spent nearly a decade working on this album, taking full advantage of the capabilities of the recording studio. The orchestrations are rich and expressive yet intricate and fine-tuned, and they provide a hefty kick when necessary…

In 1968 the composer Antonio Bartoccetti founded the group Jacula, with a view to transform into music a series of theological-philosophical and esoteric observations.
From the inner search to the magic worlds. Classic versus progressive contaminations. First ecological document, church organ, harpsichord, bass, mini-moog, violins, flutes, celebrating voices.

"Lola" gave the Kinks an unexpected hit and its crisp, muscular sound, pitched halfway between acoustic folk and hard rock, provided a new style for the band. However, the song only hinted at what its accompanying album Lola Versus the Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One was all about…

APOGEE is the well established side Project by Versus X singer, guitarist and composer Arne Schäfer. The Art of Mind is the eigth APOGEE album and invites the listener to follow a highly emotional, complex and adventurous journey through the history of progressive rock. APOGEE music is complex progressive rock based on the great progressive music of the seventies but often emerging out of the established rock field in various directions. The musical influences of APOGEE´s music are covering a wide range of styles from classic progressive rock into folk, heavy rock, jazz, baroque and renaissance music, minimal music, and new musics. In contrast to Versus X where I play guitar and sing, in APOGEE vocals and all instruments except drums are performed by myself via multitrack recording.